Mark A. Rachey, 66, of Breezy Point, formally of Sauk Centre, passed away peacefully after a short bout of cancer Nov. 18, 2023, at his home in Mesa, Arizona.
A Celebration of Life will be 1-4 p.m. Monday, July 22, 2024, at Pequot Lakes American Legion in Pequot Lakes.
Mark A. Rachey was born Feb. 1, 1957, in Sauk Centre to Howard and Julitta (Wensman) Rachey. He was the sixth of seven children. He attended Holy Family Catholic School, Sauk Centre junior high, and graduated from Sauk Centre senior high in 1975. Mark furthered his education and graduated from Detroit Lakes technical school in 1976.
After graduating, he worked for Rich’s Bottle Shop in Sauk Centre until May 1981. He then went to work at Sauk Centre Public Utilities until his retirement in 2014. On Aug. 16, 1980, he married Barbara (Rieland) Rachey. They adopted two children, Danielle (Rachey) Oberg and Derek Rachey.
Mark was a member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus and Sauk Centre Conservation Club. He ran the Knights of Columbus Free Throw contest and Special Olympics track meet. He also enjoyed fishing, hunting, golfing, baseball, softball, coaching youth hockey and watching his children participate in sports.
After retirement, Mark spent seven years traveling with Barb to different areas of the United States. Barb was a travel nurse until they settled in Mesa, Arizona, in 2020.
Survivors include his wife, Barb of Breezy Point and Mesa, Arizona; children, Danielle (Jared) Oberg of St Cloud, andDerek (Noami) Rachey of Greeley, Colorado; three grandchildren, Autumn Borstad, Briella Oberg and Nash Rachey; sisters, Shirley Marthaler of Cottonwood, Arizona, Marilyn Baker of Glendale, Arizona, and Brenda Schroeder of Durand, Wisconsin; brothers, Jerry Rachey of Cottonwood, Arizona, Richard Rachey of Robbinsdale, and Daryl Rachey of Sauk Centre; sisters- in-law, Irene and Darlene; and brothers-in-law, Jeff and Robert.
Mark was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Julitta Rachey; brother-in-law, Lee Marthaler; and sister-in-law, Shirley Rachey.